Washington state law issues

Please read this:

House Bill 1725 will make ownership of many snakes and lizards in Washington State a crime. Larger species of pythons, boas, monitors as well as helodermas have been singled out in this bill.

People owning animals listed in this bill prior to its effective date could only continue to keep their animals after complying with impossibly complex and expensive restrictions.
These restrictions include $250,000.00 liability per animal, permits, fees, warning signs at all entrances, inspections and much more.

There could be no new owners and if there were any grandfathered animals still alive, breeding those animals could become very problematic.

Full Story here:

http://www.blarg.net/~boa/hb1725.html

Note:
This bill has stalled in committee
While no one has yet driven a stake through the monsters heart it hasn't moved in some time now.

i was a part of that, as i'm part of PNHS.. There was a huge uproar about that bill, and it was not passed.. there is word of them bringing the bill back up under the table so to speak, but nothing has come of it...

Unfortunately, a bill like this must be watched and tracked very carefully. Oftentimes bills like this that get tabled will be piggybacked as part of another bill(a herp restriction law being an ammendment to a forestry bill for instance)so that it flies in under the radar so to speak.
However, if your group had a strong enough voice to help get it tabled the first time around, hopefully you will be able to continue keeping it off the books.

Hey Kestrel,

I am joining PNHS after xmas. Didn't know you posted here.

Even tho this bad boy has stalled...like it has been said before we need to keep a watch over it so it dos not sneak up on us.

Ciao

oh are ya? whats your name? do i know you?

yeah.. but what happened the first time around, its unlikely that it'll ever pass.. lol.. the ASPCA sent these 2 16 year old kids to defend their side of the arguement, while "our" side sent one of the leading herp and exotics vets.. he argued a very good case.. "So are you going to ban Cheeseburgers, and pittbulls too? they kill ALOT more people then herps do".. lol.

We have been keeping an eye on a similiar bill here in NYS. Even though our bill has also stalled, we have to keep on top of it every second because they rewrite it and try again. The legislaters are sneaky buggers, watch your back.

OK, does anyone have a status on Washington state? Last I heard, HB 1151 was the latest incarnation of their exotics ban attempt, and it died in committee in the last session.

However, Jason from Classic Dums said in another thread that something has recently been passed? True or not true? Any Washington residents here have the current scoop on this? I'm moving up there in another week, so I'm curious.

OK, here's the status page for it:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/billinf...illnumber=1151

The latest update is now:

"Jun 11 By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status."

So... I'm assuming this means it's not dead yet? Anybody out there who speaks legislaturese to answer that one?


This appears to be the text under consideration:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2...s_02282003.txt

Apparently, only venomous snakes and croc and water monitors are banned under this version. It also seems that the options for local jurisdictions adding animals to the list have been restricted a bit more than in earlier versions.

Here's where the HSUS says it's dead:

http://www.hsus.org/ace/16333

Oh, and take notes on the supporters listed at the top of that. Please give each of them an anti-vote in the next election.

State Homepage - http://www.access.wa.gov/

State Legislature - http://www.leg.wa.gov/

State Statutes/Code - http://www.access.wa.gov/government/awlaws.asp

HB 1151 has been granted a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at 1:30pm in House Hearing Room B in the John L. O’Brien Building. Please try to attend the hearing.

If you do not know yet who represents you, go to www.leg.wa.gov. Click on Find Out Who Represents You/District Finder. Enter your address and you will be given the names of your Legislators. You can click directly onto your Representatives name and then at the next screen, you will find their email address and phone number in Olympia. Or you can call the Toll-Free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and give the operator your address — he or she will tell you who your Senator and two Representatives are.

If you can also contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee, that would be great. Please write, call, or email them today and ask them to please support HB 1151. Don’t forget to tell them that you are a Washington State resident.

House Judiciary Committee members:

Representative Pat Lantz, Chair
360-786-7964
lantz_pa@leg.wa.gov

Representative Tom Campbell
360-786-7912
campbell_to@leg.wa.gov

Representative Dennis Flannigan
360-786-7930
Flanniga_de@leg.wa.gov

Representative Steve Kirby
360-786-7996
Kirby_st@leg.wa.gov

Representative Skip Priest
360-786-7830
Priest_sk@leg.wa.gov

Representative John Serben
360-786-7922
Serben_jo@leg.wa.gov

Representative Larry Springer
360-786-7822
Springer_la@leg.wa.gov

Representative Brendon Williams
360-786-7940
Williams_br@leg.wa.gov

Representative Alex Wood
360-786-7888
Wood_al@leg.wa.gov